Shade
Shade

Codename: Shade
Real Name: Shade Martinique
Aliases: none
Identity: Secret
Occupation: Vigilante, previously Damocles operative, Chemist
Citizenship: United States Citizen listed as Deceased
Place of Birth: New Orleans, LO
Known Relatives: Cleo Martinique (Mother), Unidentified (Father), Deacon Martinique (Brother), Sophia Garland (Aunt), Alexander Garland (Uncle-Deceased).
Group Affiliation: None
Education: Army/Damocles training, PhD in Bio Chemistry
First Appearances: Midwestern Protectorate #5 (As Shade Martinique), Midwestern Protectorate #27 (as Shade)

History: Shade Martinique initially grew up in one of the 'darker' areas of New Orleans. To the public her mother was a mere fortune teller, but in reality she was a Voodoo Priestess. When she was 7 an attempt to kidnap her was foiled by the police. This was labeled a random incident, though in reality it was planned by one of her mothers Rivals. In reaction to this, Shade and her older brother where soon sent to live with their Aunt and Uncle in Chicago.

Shade Martinique enlisted in the army in order to fund her Scholarship and after earning a PHD was taken on by Damocles as a field agent. She served for 3 years until she was "discharged" after being wounded, however her files, though still classified, had still been active. She soon began work for Verhey Industries med-tech labs, and soon was transferred to their Midwest labs located in Omaha.

Eventually she was contacted by a "former" commander, requesting she assist in analyzing a formula recovered during a raid on an Unidentified Terrorist cell. Known only as "formula M", she and co-worker Alicia Runingfox had been using the lab After Hours to analyze it, when a still unidentified assailant invaded the lab. Intent to keep it out of their hands, shade swallowed the formula. Going berserk, the invader brutally murdered both of them. The two where later found by Alicia's husband, the superhero called "Reload", while responding to a secondary incident at the laboratory, and immediately pronounced dead.

Little did anyone realize the full properties of the formula. Though pronounced dead, in-reality her body had gone into a coma-like state as the formula enhanced and healed her body. She awoke nearly a month later with partial amnesia, using her new found strength to escape her grave. It wasn't until she had found her way to former Colleague David Serrano's apartment that she learned the truth of her fate and her disfigurement. After coming to terms with these truths (and after raiding several thrift shops) she took to the streets thirsting for Justice; facing off against gang bangers, drug dealers, and common criminals.

These actions failed to go unnoticed however, not just by the Authorities. A crude cell-phone photograph taken by one of the witnesses she defended sparked interest by the local papers and Tabloids, which soon labeled her as "undead" based on statements from witnesses and a hospital-bound thug. This resulted in several confrontations with several Mystics and monster hunters, including a "family" group which mistook her for a vampire. Despite this, she has not allowed it to detour her in her quest. Each of the leads she has followed has lead her to dead ends, even exonerating several suspects, but she remains undaunted in her hunt for her murderer.

Height: 5ft 2in
Weight: 124lbs
Eyes: previously Blue, currently unknown (presumed glazed)
Hair: previously brown, currently brown with greenish highlights

Abilities: Possesses superhuman strength and Reflexes. She also has enhanced Endurance and Stamina, as well as a type of healing factor which allows her near instant healing and recovery from her wounds, however this "patch work" does not repair her cellular structure, leaving her body horribly scarred.

Equipment: Shade is generally equipped with silent weapons, which she keeps hidden on her person, Bolas, Ropes, Grappling hooks, and Truncheons. Though she is trained in the use of firearms, she generally only uses them when the situation requires it.


The Basic Concept for her popped in my head back in HS mostly inspired by the movie Dark man. Originally having a costume which was a neon nightmare, I'd given it a more 'Goth' tone a while back. I was originally just going to use a painted-over Jinx head, but after my attempts at modifying that head failed, I switched to a 'scalped' baroness head, which I'd puttied over with some Steel putty. The skull on the face was a last minute addition.

To teach, improve, share, entertain and showcase the work of the customizing community.